Disposable liquid dispensing device



Feb. 5, 1957 E. w. LARRABEE DISPOSABLE LIQUID DISPENSING-DEVICE Fi led Oot. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l E mm FIG.. 4 BY 1957 E. w. LARRABEE DISPOSABLE LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1954 FIG. 5

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United States Parent O DISPOSABLE LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Edward W. Larrabee, Corona, N. Y.

Application October 28, 1954, Serial No. 465,293 11 Claims. (c. 222 -539 The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices, and more particularly to a combined poure' and stopper which may be mounted in a bottle top.

In accordance with this invention, a substantially cylindrical pourer is provided with a flange member adapted to engage the edge .of a bottle top and the top portion of a stopper member is integrally united with the pourer along a narrow annulus which may easily be broken or cut so that the stopper may be separated from the pourer when desired. The pourer-stopper assembly is held in position on the bottle top by means of a bottle cap placed over the fiange member of the pourer and screwed onto the bottle in conventional manner, a circular opening being provided in the cap to :accommodate the stopper top portion or the pourer, depending on the position of the assembly in the bottle.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter in conjunction with some now preferred embodiments illustrated in the acoompanying drawing, Wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in section, showing the pourer-stopper assembly mounted on the bottle, in shipping condition;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the pourer in pouring condition;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the pourer;

Fig. 4 is a top View of the pourer;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of a pourer of slightly different structure;

Fig. 6 is a side view similar to Fig. l, but showing a modified embodiment of the pourer; and

Fig. 7 is a top View of the pourer of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show a bottle top 1 provided with end threads la. The bottle is closed by bottle cap 2 having threads Za engaging bottle threads la. The power-stopper assembly includes tubular pourer member 3 provided with annular end flange 4 serving as :a gasket between the bottle top edge and the cap. The pourer member is formed with a shoulder 3a adjacent the flange and adapted to fit into and form a seal with circular opening 5 of cap 2 (see Fig. 2). Stopper top portion 6 has a surface formation such as to enable it to snap into cap opening 5 (see Fig. l), thereby eliminating the need for cements to seal the bottle.

One preferred embodment of the pourer member is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The pourer is provided with breathef -apertures 7 leading to annular space 8 formed between the outer wall of the pourer member and an inner cylindrical baffie member 9 connected to the outer wall by means of bridge portions 10 and 10a.

The pour-er illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar in all respects to the one shown in Fig. 3, except for the battle means which, in this embodinent, comprises a chordal wall 9a facing breather` aperture 7.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, stopper top portion 6 is united with the pourer tube along a narrow annulus 11, forming an integral assembly with the pourer. The preferred angle between flange 4 and the stopper top rim is Z,780,39 7 Patented Feb. 5, 1957.

about 30, which facilitates the separation of the stopper top fmin the pourer, by cutti'ng, for instance.

Any suitable exible material may be used for the power-stopper assembly and I have found polyethylene to be particularly advantageous for the purpose. Any similar plastic material may be equally useful.

Such plastics may be molded into the unitary assembly of the present invention very simply and inexpensively.

Threaded cap 2 may also be fonned of plastc or other suitable rigd material.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a power-stopper of similar structure, except for a modification in regard to the breathef apertures. In this embodiment, flange 4 is provided with a plurality of generally radial grooves 4a, providing an air vent through the flange and the threads la, 2a.

The operation of the device is very simple. After the bottle is filled with the desired liquid, such as an alcoholic beverage, the pourer-stopper assembly is placed on the bottle top with its flange engaging the edge of the bottle, the stopper top portion having been snapped into the central opening of the bottle cap (see Fig. l). Upon screwing the cap onto the bottle, a tight closure is formed with out the need for any cement, the stopper top portion forming a seal with the cap and the pourer flange serving as a gasket between the bottle top and the cap. The bottle is now in shipping condition.

When it is desired to use the pourer, the cap is unscrewed, the stopper top portion is snapped out of engagement with the cap opening and is separated from the pourer unit along the narrow annulus connecting it thereto, for instance, by cutting. The poureis now turned outwardly (Fig. 2) and is held in position by screwing the cap back onto the bottle with the pourer flange being engaged between the cap and the bottle top. The stopper is also reversed and inserted in the pourer tube.

While certain preferred embodimcnts of the invention have been described hereinabove to illustrate the practice of the invention, it should be clearly understood that various modfications may occur to the skilled in the art, particularly after benetting from the present teaching, without dcparting from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A liquid dispensing device comprising, in combination, a substantially tubular dispensing unit with an integral annular fiange member at one end thereof and a stopper member having a substantially circular top portion ntegrally united with the dispensing unit along a narrow frangible annulus along the inner circumference of said flange member, the dispensing unit, its fiange and the stopper top forming an integral unit connected solely by said annulus and the stopper top being separable from the dispensing unit along said n'arrow annulus.

2. The dispensing device of claim l, wherein the tubular unit is provided with at least one radial air vent, a cylindrcal baffie member being provided within the tubular unit and facing said air vent.

3. The dispensing device of claim l, wherein the tubular unit is provided with a radial air vent, a chordal bame member being provided within the tubular unit and facing the air vent.

4. The dispensing device of claim l, wherein the fiange member is provided with a plurality of substantially radial air vent grooves.

5. A unitary' liquid dispensing device of plastic material comprising, in combin-ation, :a tubular pouring member, an annular fiange at one end of said member, air vent means in said device, and a substantially circular stopper member carrying a cork, said stopper member being united with the pouring member along a narrow frangible annulus along the inner circumterence of the flange, the pouring member, flange and stopper member being molded into an integral unit of said plastic material, with the annulus forming the sole connection therebetween, and the stopper being separable from the pouring member along said narrow annulus.

6. A liquid dispensing device adapted to be mounted in the neck of a bottle, comprising, in eombination an integral assembly of a tubular pourng member, an annular flange `at one end of said member and adapted to engage the rim of the neck of the bottle, air vent means in said device, a substantially circular stopper member carrying a cork, said stopper member being united with the pouring member along a narrow frangible annulus nt the inner circumference of the flange, the annulus forming the sole connection between stopper member, pouring member and flange, and a screw cap having a central circular aperture, the flange of said integral assembly being held between the bottle rim and said screw cap to maintain the assembly in position and the cap aperture providing clearance for the eircular stopper member when it is united with the pouring member and for the tubular pou ring member a when the stopper member is separated from the pouring member along the narrow annulus and the position of the assembly is reversed so that the pouring member projects outwardly from the bottle neck.

7. The liquid dispensing device of claim 6, wherein said integral assembly is molded in one piece from a plastic material.

8. The liquid dispensing device of claim 7, wherein said plastic material is polyethylene.

9. The liquid dispensing device of claim 6, wherein the tubular pouring member is provided with at least one radial air vent, a cylindrical battle member being provided within the tubular member and being integrally united therewith, said baffie member facng the air vent.

10. The liquid dispensing device of claim 6, wherein the tubular pouring member is provided with a radia] air vent, a chordal bathe member being provided within the tubular member and being integrally united therewith, said bafiie member facing the air vent.

11. The liquid dispensing device of claim 6, wherein the annular flange is provided with a pluralty of radial air vent Channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

